Two Balk Questions-OBR

[Tim C]

"B: Please tell me how he can do that without A) lifting his left foot first, or B) stepping toward first."

LA Umpire Guy:

Thanks for the quick and succinct answer to my question.

This tells me everything I need to know about your post.

Regards,

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

As usual, a bunch of umpires can't agree on what constitutes a balk, or can't seem to explain why something isn't a balk.

So, please try to explain how a right-hander lifting one's left, or lead foot, WITH ONLY A RUNNER AT FIRST, without delivering a pitch, is not deception, and therefore a balk.

Originally Posted by L.A. Umpire Guy

As usual, a bunch of umpires can't agree on what constitutes a balk, or can't seem to explain why something isn't a balk.

So, please try to explain how a right-hander lifting one's left, or lead foot, WITH ONLY A RUNNER AT FIRST, without delivering a pitch, is not deception, and therefore a balk.

I think you are playing lawyer a little too much with "step directly towards a base".

Much like Tim C used to play lawyer with the the ol' "rub dirt on the white of the mitt and it isn't white anymore and therefore legal".

Traditionally, it is lifting the foot AND stepping towards the base that has to be satisfied. With lefties, it is almost impossible for them to lift their leg and NOT balk because lifting it causes the foot to go towards first base slightly. But, we don't play lawyer on that one, thus, we are not going to play lawyer on the righty lifting his foot and stepping directly towards first base. It IS a legal move, always has been, end of discussion.

Oh, and get used to the constant bickering amoungst umpires on rule interpretations. The only reason it ends up being very confrontational on a BBS is that it isn't in "person" with people you usually know.